Letter: Should have had strong sentence

I did not, and do not, know the Jones brothers or Aundray McDonald. Therefore my thoughts have nothing to do with any relationship with any of those involved in this crime.

E.W. StalnakerLeavenworth

To the editor:I did not, and do not, know the Jones brothers or Aundray McDonald. Therefore my thoughts have nothing to do with any relationship with any of those involved in this crime.

All I know of the situation is what I have read in the Leavenworth Times. Reportedly some acquaintances with ill feelings toward each other agreed on a meeting. McDonald, a prior felon, brought a gun, which was illegal for him to be carrying. Two people are dead from fatal gunshot wounds. Circumstances would certainly indicate the gun owner and carrier considered or intended to do grave harm.

Why the prosecutor agreed to plead this case down to manslaughter disturbs me greatly, particularly when the victims' family was opposed to such a plea. I feel it would have been much wiser for a jury to make the determination as to the seriousness of these two killings.

Considering the concern people have with gun violence in our country, for a prosecutor to plea, and a judge to confirm, a manslaughter charge in a case such as this is the height of hypocrisy routinely exhibited by our justice system. In my opinion, justice was not served in this matter.

Sister Publications

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